Anti-colonial literature; Ulamas of Kerala inspiring the youths and freedom fighters against British

Leaders of Kerala Muslim are not confined in mosques or Madras’ as [place where Islamic jurisprudence is taught in Kerala]. Instead Ulama’s of Kerala lead the society with the power and influence they have in the society. they where interfered in political, social ,and even personal problems of peoples .political and social leaders and rulers came in front of them seeking help for their problems . histories of Kerala says that the period when Samoodiri was ruler in Malabar Ulama’s of that time gave their own help and support for the progressiveness of society .they lead many freedom struggles and organized many fights against colonialist when imperialist came to Malabar for colonize. When Vaskodagama stepped in Calicut [Kappa] in 1498, European colonization started in India. So, naturally in India the freedom fights and movements are firstly started in Malabar area. And it was lead by the Muslim scholars and leaders . Not only in Kerala but also in many parts of worlds like Africa and even in Asia, freedom fights and movements against colonization is lead by Muslim scholars and leaders.

The Fatwa’s, poems and their own works unified the people of Kerala against colonial movements and colonization it restricted them in some ways .Those anti-colonial literature were most perfect and vibrant works of those Ulama’s. from those works the most accepted In people and influenced in people will be discussed here .

1.thahreed;

World’s first anti colonial movement was lead by sheikh Zainudheen maqhdoom1st who came from Yemen to Kerala and settled there. he was a great Islamic scholar who spent his studies as pupil of khathimul Muhaqiq sheikh Ibn hajr al hythami al makki . Due to Maqdhoom’s request to sheikh Kunjali Marakkar who was a widely accepted scholar of Kerala and pupil of sheikh Zainudheen Maqdhoom 1st decided to arrange a Muslim navy force against Portuguese for helping Samoodiri who was ruler of Malabar at that time .

To arrange Muslims and non Muslims against Portuguese sheikh Zainudheen Maqhdoom wrote this poem- Thahreedh .the lines of Thahreedh inspires the people to fight and stand against movements of imperialist. As the Zainudheen Maqdhoom was the leader who lead first movements against colonization also his poem was the first anti colonial literature. it consist one hundred and seventy seven lines which describes the violence and problems created by those imperialist in Kerala. There is no evidence for the period and time that poem was written by him. It most probably comes in 15th century when Vaskod Gama came second time in Kerala and started strengthening their struggles .

2.thuhfathul mujahedeen;

The first history book published in Kerala was Thuhfathul Mujahedeen. And it was written by sheikh Zainudheen Maqdoom 2nd.who was son of sheikh Muhammed . sheikh Muhammed was a Islamic scholar as well as brother of sheikh Zainudheen Maqdhoom 1st.In between Thahreed and Thufathul mujahedeen it comes approximately 70 years of gap. The summon of poem was same as the Thahreedh to fight against the imperialist.

In the first part of this history work Maqdhoom 2nd portrayed about the importance of jihad in Islam and its reward after here. and the main thing which gives importance and colour to this book was it had translated to many languages like Persian , Urdu , English , Malayalam, Portuguese, Check, Lateen, French, Spanish, and so on . the first part of this book is translated into Persian and English by Muhammed Farishtha and Anderson respectively. And its fourth part is translated to Portuguese by Portuguese historians. And it’s full part are translated to English by M.J Raiderson. It had translated to many European languages by Amarson and rocks. In India Husain Nainar and Saminillah Qadiri translated to Urdu and English respectively. In Malayalam around three translation are there for Thuhfathul Mujahedeen .this all pictures the influence and importance of the Thuhfathul Mujahedeen .He wrote this poem for arranging the people against colonial attacks.

He shows in it Portuguese attacks,plundering,robbery of resources from india.He dedicates this poem to sultan Ali Adel shah who was ruler of Deccan at that period.

3.Fathul Mubeen;

Fathul Mubeen is a poem again. It consist around 537 lines. The author of this poem was sheikh Qadhi Muhammed who was judge of Calicut city for Muslims. He was well known with his Arab-Malayalam mala’s [same like poems but it is mixed with Malayalam and Arab languages]and Arab – Malayalam works. His well known Arab Malayalam work was Muhiyadheen mala which praise sheikh Abdul Qadir al Jeelani who was a well known saint for Muslim world.

He dedicates this poem to Samoodiri the ruler of Malabar who loved and gave support to Muslims for standing against British imperialism with his wealth and power. Fath’hul Mubeen means “The clear conquest”. Mappila [Muslims of Kerala] and Nayan’s [a high caste group of Hindu people] surrendered the Chaliyam fort which was made by Portuguese; it’s the context and inspiration behind this legend work. It is translated to English and the translator of this legend poem Dr.Mueenudheen says that “the poem is most probably written in between 1578-1579.Now the poem is confined as a part of another book called Javahirul Ash’ar written by sheikh Adul Qadir Flafari in 1594. And it is also translated to Malayalam by both K.K Abdul Kareem and Mankada Abdul Aziz Individually.

Qadhi Muhammed requests to people to pray for the ruler it was Samoodiri and he clearly pictures the Chaliyam struggle through this poem which was held in 1571.

4 Saiful Bathar ;

It was written by Sheikh Abdul Rahman Abdul Bari Al Ahdel the grandson of sayyid alavi al mamburam who was well known as mamburam thangal .sayyid alavi lead many anti- colonial movements against Portuguese and British

The book consist a fatwa by sheikh Abdurahman which was against colonialism .The book

Is avail as a part of another book called Ahdathul Umera Val Hukkam Li ihanathi kafarathi Val ahdathil asnam a work in Arabic language which is codification many poems and works by sayyid fasal al mamburam .

This were the main anti colonial literature by Ulama’s of Kerala and the thing is that the historians does not shown any type of justice towards the leaders and freedom fighters of Muslim Ummah .We can’t see any Ulama’s from Kerala as freedom fighter in any Indian histories except some neutralist’s histories . Other Indian history books are just like religious oriented .

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